KENTUCKY PROJECT

July 28, 2022

In July 2022, a devastating rainstorm hit Eastern Kentucky, resulting in the deaths of 45 individuals and the flooding of 14,000 homes over five days, with over fourteen inches of rain recorded. Within 72 hours of the disaster, two advance response team members initiated the Community Caretaking program, clearing debris and mud to prevent mold growth. CEO & Founder, Rob Gaudet, joined shortly after, establishing SAFE Camp to provide essential aid such as water, food, and supplies to the affected community members. Donations poured in daily, promptly distributed to survivors. Despite challenges like damaged bridges and culverts, team members tirelessly delivered supplies to remote areas, ensuring stranded individuals received vital assistance.

Working With 2.5 Million Grant over 3 years.

In Kentucky, the Cajun Navy Ground Force Disaster Case Managers have supported 317 households of flood survivors. Each case is unique and evaluated on an individual basis. Some survivors required help with minor tasks and repairs like cleaning supplies, water, clothing, or basic household items. Meanwhile, others faced more significant challenges such as extensive home repairs, replacement of all appliances and furniture, assistance with FEMA claims or appeals, installation of new roofs and septic tanks. Additionally, there were cases where individuals required a new home to be constructed for them or assistance in locating a new residence.

The Cajun Navy has provided employment opportunities for nearly 30 residents residing in the counties impacted by the July 2022 floods. A prerequisite for participation in the program was that individuals must have been affected by the flood, either through home damage or job loss. This initiative has enabled them to remain within their community while simultaneously contributing to the recovery efforts by supporting their neighbors and bolstering the local economy through spending within the affected areas.

The program in Kentucky stands out from others because it offers the unique opportunity to hire local residents who not only reside in the affected area but many of whom have directly experienced the impact of the disaster themselves. For instance, our construction team would work on a survivor’s home one day, only to hire them the next day to assist other families facing similar challenges. Similarly, our DCM Supervisor, who lost her home, job, and all sources of income during the flood, found hope when she was employed by the Cajun Navy to aid others in similar predicaments. Remarkably, she has since had her home rebuilt by ASP, an organization dedicated to constructing homes for flood survivors in the region.

Achievements Made in Disaster Relief Recovery

Home Visits—238 initial visits not including follow-ups
Catholic Charities House in a Box (Furniture)–10 (Pike County)
Catholic Charities Home Depot Box (Building Materials/Appliances)–10 (Pike County)
Food Boxes Delivered– 321 (Courtesy of ICAN Services in Letcher and Thankful Hearts in Pike)
Couches and Chairs–20
Furniture–10 (coffee tables, end tables, kitchen tables, etc)
Beds–4
Stoves–7
Refrigerators–12
Washers/Dryers—3 sets
Window Air Conditioners–3
Hot Water Heaters– 1
Generators–1
Toilets–1
Household Items–209 (Clothing, Baby Items, Dishes, bedding, cleaning supplies, etc.)
Medical Equipment–202 (Walkers, wheelchairs, shower chairs, transfer boards, hospital beds, etc)
Eye Glasses–2
Bridge/Culvert Repair—2
Yard Erosion Mediation–3
FEMA Appeals—41 (referrals to free legal aide to assist with appeals)
USDA Grant Assistance– 284
SNAP Assistance– 1
New Builds– 8 (referrals to ASP, Homes Inc. and FAHE)
Building Materials–16 (wood, sheetrock, sub flooring, etc.)
Flooring–93
Cabinetry and Countertops–3
HVAC Repair–2
Gravel/Fill Dirt–4
Electrical/Plumbing–3
City Water hookup assistance–2
Deck/Porch/Steps–4
Wheelchair Ramps–2
Matched Survivors with Volunteer Groups for repairs–8
Transition Survivors from campers/living with relatives to homes—3
Community Outreach Events Attended–16
Community Meetings/Listening Sessions Attended–14
Case Management Training Attended–4

Ground Crew Numbers

Muck and Guts—129
Complete Gut and Rebuild—2
Roofs Tarped—2
Mold Remediation—20 (sprayed under homes)
Pressure Washing—4
Porches—6
Wheelchair Ramps—4
Steps—5
Handrails—6
Businesses Repaired– 4 (including complete gutting and rebuild and pressure washing)
Homes Repaired– 50 (including installing doors, bead board, shingles, patched holes in roofs, installed sub-floor, laminate flooring, hung drywall, panneling, and trim, painted, installed toilets and bathtubs)

Kentucky 2022 SAFE Camp

July 29 2022 through August 16, 2022

1,931 volunteer hours (not everyone put their hours in Galaxy Digital)
1060 Cars Served
758 meals Served
29 Amazon packages

Deliveries:

We had 14 box trucks & 29 pickups or flatbed trailers

Tickets completed: 7

Kentucky Letters of Support

Letters of Support from Pike County Kentucky Relief Services

December 21, 2023
Cajun Navy
Re: Disaster Case Managers
Dear Cajun Navy:
It has come to our attention that our faithful Disaster Case Mangers will be leaving us after spending
time with us on the ground in Pike County helping those recover from the Flood waters of Summer of
2022.
As the unmet team manager of Pike County Relief Services, I volunteer with and work shoulder to
shoulder with these fine people with the Cajun Navy. They have been a crucial element in the workings
of Pike County Relief Services. They not only have been a crucial element, but also faithful workers,
dedicated workers, committed workers that we hate to lose in such a time as this.
With their great help, we have helped over 100 families gain a sense of normalcy in their livelihood
within Pike County. With their great help, we have helped more than just flood survivors, we have
helped those with unmet needs. I must admit, it would have been mighty difficult for us to help over 100
families without the monumental assistance of these Cajun Navy Case Managers! They have been
amazing!
We are thankful to have helped so many in such a short amount of time; however, there remains open
cases who still need new homes, new HVAC’s, new hook-ups to City Water, homes that need private
bridges, homes that needs leveling, homes that needs moved, homes that need painted, homeowners
who need resources to get them back in a safe, sanitary housing, and who more . . . if you would
consider extending our partnership with our Cajun Navy Team we could help even more people.
Together We Can Achieve More and with the Cajun Navy Team, they are no exception, they have proven
themselves to be exceptional in their work ethic, in their communication with clients, in their
communication with the Pike County Relief Service team, in their communication with key contacts that
are vital to flood survivors and those with unmet needs.
Respectfully submitted,
Thomas Reid,
Your Unmet Needs Team Manager
Pike County Relief Services

Download Copy of Letter
Letters of Support from Letcher County Kentucky Long Term Recovery Group

Letcher County Long Term Recovery Group
Executive Committee
December 22, 2023
RE: Cajun Navy grant extension
Dear Cajun Navy Ground Force:
We have learned that your grant to provide assistance for help with the July 2022 flood recovery has been extended thru year ending 12/31/2024. The value of the help received through this program is truly incalculable.

Cajun Navy Ground Force was at the forefront of the efforts to help families survive the havoc that had been placed upon their lives. Not only surviving the historic flood waters but the devastating aftermath of losing their homes, their life’s work and hopes and dreams for their futures. Cajun Navy Ground Force took on this Herculean task of trying to put lives back together and we are forever grateful.

While the grant has been extended the window of time for the case managers has not. We wish to stress the utmost importance of having these people familiar with every aspect of flood recovery, where families are in their recovery, what options remain open to them in the future remain in place.

The importance of keeping these experienced and knowledgeable battle worn people in place
Is not lost on our committee. In fact, the idea of losing those that have been our right hands throughout this horrifying experience is in itself horrific.

We are also in danger of losing the experienced CNGF construction crews we have on the ground.
Letcher county had fully one third more homes lost in the six counties affected by the flood and so the sheer number of those impacted by the flood limited the number of able-bodied workforce participants. The time it will take to replace these personnel, if they can be replaced, will surely hamper flood recovery to no small extent.

At the end of December we will also no longer have CORE DCM representation in Letcher county.
We desperately need to maintain experienced flood recovery personnel and advocates for flood survivors. These numbers are dwindling just at the time funding from the CDBG funding is close to being released. We need more, not fewer, experienced DCM’s in place to walk with flood survivors and help them to regain a semblance of normalcy to their lives.

When the grant was put in place we knew it was for the sole purpose of helping people desperately in need. And in that vein, those of us who have been working since day one of the flood, we implore you
To take whatever measures are needed to ensure that this vital part of our recovery remains in place.

With kindest regards

Letcher County LTRG
Executive Committee

Download Copy of Letter

Our Goal

Our objective is to ensure families return to safe and stable living environments. Despite being a year and a half post-flood, the ongoing necessity for assistance remains significant.

The program began in August 2022 and the grant has been extended until December 31, 2024. CN Ground Force will continue to have Disaster Case Managers and a Construction Ground Crew to assist the survivors for the remainder of this time period.

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